Hair drier



R. A. RUNCI Jan. 5, 1960 HAIR DRIER Filed April 8, 195? INVENTOR.

BY Fla/4mm A. Pam,

AGENT United States Patent an emiatr a e m Q.- "lsel'aim's. c1. 34-9s This. inyention relates to a hair drying means and more particularly to ahair drying meansvadapted to be worn over wet-hair on the head.. r

Heretofore: one means. ofdrying hair was accomplished through the, combined use of heat and movingairn These have been supplemented with theuse .of adesiccating materialsuch as is shown-in U.S Patent 2,127,121. These means of dryingthair'involved expensive equipmemes-well as; much discomfort to the user :due to the heat and noisegenerated. -='Additionally such means. prevented-the user from performing-other duties while the dryingprocess took place. Another means of drying hairawasthrough theme of a -hair drying cap or hoodlike .structure: which employed I a. suitableidesiccating or dehydrating material suchasis illustrated in U .S.--Patents- 2,420,358, 2,453,179, 2,4.'7.0,833', 2,493,363 and-2,497,301. Althoughthese latter meanspermit the wearer to perform othertactivities while thedrying process proceeded they aregenerally bulky, heavy and unattractivedue to the larger quantities of. desiccating material :employed. Additionally, they;;are of apermanent-nature requiring reactivationtorregeneration i of the desiccating material.

Also because .thedesiccating material-is separated fromthehair andscalp by'only a thin porous material'appreciable quantities of desiccating material often pass therethrough and. lodge in the'hair and scalp to do harm thereto. i u The.present invention is an improvement over these prior hair :-drying caps or hood-like-structures and is so made and constructed that the same is only worn once and then discarded alleviating the reactivation of the desiccating material required heretofore.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a.;cap orthood-like structure adapted to be worn over wet hair on the head which will dry the hair without the use of any heating elements.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a hoodlike structure of the above type whichemploys a suitable desiccating material which cannot sift through to the hair and scalp todo any harm thereto.

Still another'iobject o'f the invention is to provide a hood-like structure of the above type which is made and constructed such that the same is only worn once and then discarded.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is an exaggerated side view, partly in section illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is also an exaggerated side view, partly in section illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention is'directed to a cap or hood-like structure arranged to conform to the contour of a human head which comprises an inner layer of a flexible water permeable material, an outer layer of either a flexible water permeable material or water repellent material, a layer of absorbent material adjacent the inner layer which is somewhat thicker than the inner layer and a thin layer of desiccating material between the outer layer and the layer of absorbent material.*-In one preferred embodiment, the desiccating material is very fine granular-silica-gel to provide a large surface area. I

In another embodiment of theinvention there is provided a hood-like structure arranged to conform to the contour'of a human head whichcomprises an inner layer of a flexible water permeable material, an outer layer of either a flexible water permeable material or water repellent'material," and a layer of absorbent material in which there is imbedded or impregnated a desiccating material, this latter layer beingbetween the outer layer andthe inner layer.

Referring nowto Fig. lthere is shown a cap or hoodlike structure 2 conforming substantially to the contour or shape of the head. This hood can be of any desired shape as long as it covers all the hair to be dried. The hood-like structure 2 consists of a thin inner layer 4 which is adjacent the hair. This inner layer 4 is formed of a soft, smooth and pliant orflexible water permeable material such as cotton sheeting, absorbent paper, cloth material, cellulose fibers or the like. The outer layer 6 can be formed of either a thin flexible water impermeable or repellent material. In order toprevent the desiccating material from picking up moisture from the air while the hood-like structure 2 is upon the head, the outer layer 6 is preferably composed'of'a thin. flexible waterproof or water resistant material such as polyethylene, vinyl plastics, latex, cellophane, glassine paper, wax paper, wet strength paper and the like. Additionally the outer layer 6 can be made of a material which isimpregnated or coated with a suitable polymer plastic composition or silicone such that it is impermeable to Water. The use of a water impermeable material as the outer layer is advantageous since it permits the hood-like structure 2 to be worn even when the weather is inclement. Additionally, it can be suitably printed upon to give colors and designs therefor thus making it sufliciently attractive that it can be worn in public.

The flexible inner layer 4 and flexible outer layer 6 are joined together at their outer edges. Adjacent the thin layer 4 and between the thin outer layer 6 and inner layer 4 is a distinct layer 8 of a suitable water absorbent material. This absorbent layer is pliable as is the inner and outer layers and is somewhat thicker than the inner layer 4. This absorbent material layer can be composed of cotton padding, absorbent paper, cellulose wood fiber, and the like. Cellulosic fibers which have been disintegrated or fluffed to separate the fibers have been found to be very effective as the absorbent material. Between the outer layer 6 and absorbent material layer 3 there is provided a thin layer of very fine granular or dustlike desiccating or dehydrating material 10. This desiccating material is preferably silicagel although materials such as calcium chloride can be employed. The silica gel is preferably as fine as possible in order to present the maximum surface area so that it will more quickly and effectively absorb the moisture. The absorbent material 8 is of suflicient thickness to prevent the dustlike silica gel from filtering or sifting through to the hair and scalp. The silica gel layer and absorbent material layer extend over the entire area of hair to be dried.

In order to prevent the desiccating material from shifting and clumping it is preferable that the desiccating material be enclosed in small compartments or pockets. This can be done by stitching or by subjecting the inner and outer layers to any particular means which would accomplish the desired result. Suitable ways of preventing the desiccating material from shifting about are illustrated in the aforementioned patents.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the thin flexible inner layer 4 and thin flexible outer layer 6 are as in Fig. 1. However, this embodiment, there is provided between the outer layer and inner layer 4 a single layer of absorbent material 12 in which there is imbedded or impregnated a suitable quantity of desiccating material such as very fine granular silica gel. The absorbent material layer is composed of materials such as layer 1 bin Fig. l. Additionally, this layer as was noted in Fig. 1 is somewhat thicker than the inner water porous layer 4. This latter embodiment does not permit the desiccating material to shift or clump and thus no additional means such as sewing to form pockets need be taken to prevent shifting or clumping.

The hood-like structure 2 as described above when in use is placed over the head so that the inner layer 4 comes into direct contact with the hair to be dried. The desiccating material and absorbent material layer extend over all the hair to be dried. Moisture in the hair is transmitted to the inner layer 4 thence to the absorbent material layer and desiccating material. The process continues until all the hair is dried. After use the hoodlike structure is disposed of or thrown away.

The present invention hair drier has numerous advantages over prior art hair driers. First, the quantity of desiccating material such as silica gel required according to the present invention is considerably less than that needed previously. Thus only a minimum quantity of desiccating material is needed which reduces the costs as well as the weight of the hair drier. Second, because f the small quantity of desiccating material employed, the hair driers of the instant case are more compact and attractive than are those previously described. Third, the desiccating material employed is very fine granular or dust-like thus presenting the maximum surface area. Thus the hair drier of the instant case is more efiicient in absorbing moisture from the hair. Fourth, the absorbent material layer aids in hastening the withdrawal of moisture from the hair as well as helping to prevent the fine granular desiccating material from sifting through to the hair and scalp. Thus the instant hair drier is perfectly safe from the effects the desiccating material may have upon the hair and scalp. Fifth, because of the particular materials employed and construction, the hair drier of the instant case can be disposed of after being used just once. Thus it is more sanitary.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article of manufacture without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the description or as shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A hood-like structure for drying hair which is adapted to conform to the shape of a human head which comprises a thin flexible inner wall of water permeable material, a thin flexible outer wall of a water permeable material, a layer of a fibrous absorbent material adjacent the inner wall, and a thin layer of granular desiccating material between said outer wall and said layer of fibrous absorbent material.

2. A hood-like structure for drying hair which is adapted to conform to the shape of a human head which comprises a thin flexible inner wall of a water permeable material, a thin flexible outer wall which is impermeable to water, a layer of a fibrous absorbent material adjacent the inner wall, and a thin layer of granular desiccating material between said outer wall and said layer of fibrous absorbent material.

3. A hood-like structure for drying hair which is adapted to conform to the shape of a human head which comprises a thin flexible inner wall of a water permeable material, a thin flexible outer wall of polyethylene, a layer of a fibrous absorbent material adjacent the inner wall and a thin layer of fine granular silica gel between said outer wall and said layer of fibrous absorbent material.

4. A disposable hair drying structure comprising a thin flexible inner wall of a water permeable material, an outer wall of a thin flexible material, a layer of a fibrous absorbent material adjacent the inner wall, and a thin layer of granular desiccating material between said outer wall and said layer of fibrous absorbent material.

5. The hair drying structure of claim 4 wherein the absorbent material comprises cotton.

6. The hair drying structure of claim 4 wherein the absorbent material comprises cellulosic fibers.

7. The hair drying structure of claim 4 wherein the absorbent material comprises absorbent paper.

8. A disposable hair drying structure comprising a thin flexible inner wall of a water permeable material, an outer wall of a thin flexible material, a layer of a fibrous absorbent material or" a continuous web-like nature between said inner wall and said outer wall, granular desiccating material imbedded within said continuous web-like layer of fibrous absorbent material, the shifting of said desiccating material being substantially restrained by said continuous web-like layer of fibrous absorbent material.

9. The hair drying structure of claim 8 wherein said outer wall comprises a water permeable material.

10. The hair drying structure of claim 8 wherein said outer wall comprises a water impermeable material.

11. The hair drying structure of claim 10 wherein said water impermeable material comprises polyethylene.

12. The hair drying structure of claim 8 wherein said granular desiccating material is silica gel.

13. The hair drying structure of claim 8 wherein said continuous web-like layer of fibrous absorbent material comprises cotton.

14. The hair drying structure of claim 8 wherein said continuous web-like layer of fibrous absorbent material comprises cellulosic fibers.

15. The hair drying structure of claim 8 wherein each of said inner wall and said outer wall comprises absorbent paper, said continuous web-like layer of absorbent material comprises cotton and said desiccating material is fine granular silica gel.

References Cited in the filc of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,358 Culligan et a1 May 13, 1947 2,453,179 Austin Nov. 9, 1948 2,470,833 Moore May 24, 1949 2,493,363 Sapp Jan. 3, 1950 2,497,301 Farmer Feb. 14, 1950 2,713,214 Gulaskie July 19, 1955 2,735,507 Vogel Feb. 21, 1956 

